Drifting device for locomotives.



F. 0. WHEALON.

DRIPTING DEVICE FOR LocoMoTIvBs.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1911.

Patented Apr. l, 1913 2 SHEETS-*SHEET i,

@antw/i:

" UmTED lSTATES lrarinvr osmosi.'

-IERANCIS O. WHEALON, 0F ST. PAUL, MNNESOTA.

:DRIFTING DEVICE ron-Irnocoi'lrorrvns.

Specification of-ietter's' Patenti Application med Juneaziain *seratlvaneasgmvo* #1P rented Apr. 1.1913.

i To all whom it may concern.' I

Ee' it known that I, FRANCIS O. WHEALoN',

and vapor. from the compression side' of the pist/on -to thevacuum side during the entire stroke ofthe piston while the engine is drifting. VThe. term-drifting is used to de- '.ine the action of the'engine when working continuously by momentum or' gravity with the steam cut o`i'-throttle closed. i

An objectof my' invention is greater simplicity of construction and eiectiveness in use than devices of its kind heretofore employed. To these ends my invention consists of the following features of construct-ion and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings with which I have illustrated my device and which form partof my specification, Figure 1 is an elevation' of a locomotive cylinder equipped with my improved drifter; Fig. 2'is a front end elevation ofthe cylinder; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cylinder partly in section on the line X-X of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a similar view partlyin section on the line Y-Y of Fig. 2 to better illustrate the action of my new structure. A

In the above drawings I have shown an engine cylinder A connected to the saddle B 40.01? a locomotive and provided with the drifter parts C and D.

I have disclosed my invention in connection with an engine cylinder provided with what is commonly termed inside steam admission having a piston valve 2 operated .by

the valve rod 3 within the valve chamber 4 and having the steam space 5 communicating with the steam chest 6 which islocated centrally between the ends of the cylinder, by means of steam openings 7. Exhaust por-ts l8 occur in the valve chamber at each extremity of the valve stroke communicating with the exhaust cavities 9 which surround the valve `chamber and communicate with v the. locomotive in the usual manner. Steam ports 10.occuninthewll' of the valve cham-- ber between th p fport 9 and the steam opening closed by thevalv certain `posi tioDSfl communicateffivit which, surround l points'andcomm'un' l l tive endsjof.thelicylirdei through openings'-4 13. A piston` Mif'ssho 'opera-ting withinI the-cylinder in thenshal/ aimer. The eration of the valve-2 l e chafnbc'rft together with thelcqn e dtp? .i I passages is commonjftoI type Ashown during thefa plida ion osteam to the engine and the stiu'ftre of these' parts may be considered comri'ionito obomotives of-f* 1. this type and typical of lpcon'iotive enginesI having the same functions. v i

The drifter part D consists of a pipe 15 communicating through pipes 16 with the exhaust .passage-ways 9 at each endof the cylinder and communicating with the steam chest 6 through the valve chamber 17 lo- 80` cated adjacent thereto in which operates a check valve 28 which is adapted to close the drifter pipe 15 uponthe admission of steam to the steam chest. Pipes 15 and 16 allow the circulation of air from the compression side of the piston through the ports 10 and v 8 into the steam chest 6 and thence through steam opening 7 and steam' space -5 to the port 10 and steam passage 12 upon the vacuum side of t-he piston during its successive reciprocations while drifting.

In ordinary valve action in a locomotive engine the valve face 11 of the valve 2 closes the ports 10 of the valve chamber at each end of the cylinder to the passage of air'95. and gases into and out .of the cylinder whenl the piston 14 is at a point considerably distant from the extremity of thev piston stroke. To permit the continuous circulation of air and gases fromv the compression to the vacuum sides of the pistomI place upon the engine cylinder A the drifter part Q which consists `of bypasses 18 of -ordinary construction and having a communication with the steam chest G through a passage` 19 and lwith the steam passage 12 through a passageV 20 at'each end of the cylinder. Each bypass 18 is controlled by a double valve having a large valve part 21 which closes the byalve; I The ports 10 'steam passages 12 chamber at these .1th` their respecotivesA pass under pressure from the steam chest v and a small valve part 22 operated by thev valve part 21 to close the by-pass to commu-y nicaion from Vthe exterior. From the valve 22.I extend a pipe 23 to the end of the drifter pipe of thel drifter part D. Each` by-pass 18 thus communicateswith one eX- tremity of the drifter pipe 15 and'd'uring the closure of the ports 10 by the' valve 2 each `end of the cylinder communicates through the' steam passage 12, passage 20 and pipe 23 with the steam chest 6; and also communicates with thesteam chest through the by-pass 18. v

f It is evident that during the greater part vof the piston stroke the extremities' of the cylinder on the two sides lof the piston communicatezwith each other throughthe ports 10 and the exhaust ports and passage-ways.

and the drifter part D and are'also free to communicate through the steam passages 12 and thence through the by-pass 18 v.or the pipes 23 anddrifter parts D. A'Ilhle relative amount of air and vaporitraversing the'different routes will depend Aupon the relative resistances :and sizes of theipa'ssage-.Ways When the valve 2 closes the ports 10 the re sistance of the passage through the exhaust ports increases until the ports 10 are closed after which the air and vapors are still free to pass through the steam passages-12 and l by-passes 18 which connect with the steam chest. l

A relief valve 21 is provided communicating with the steam supply passages of the engine and adapted to allow the entrance of air when the throttle is closed and the en? gine begins to drift..

' In prior art devices air issucked into the vacuum side of the cylinder and upon the return stroke of-the piston theair sucked in,

^ being on the compression side, is forced out through thev exhaust passage-ways and smoke stack, thus adding to the useless work done by the piston during its stroke and in no Way utilizing the suction upon the opposite side of the piston to draw olf the compressed air. Moreover, no means of escape is provided for the air upon the compression side of the cylinder after the clos-ure of the cut-- of valve. In addition to the resistance'offered to the movementl of the piston by the air forced through the exhaust passages atv each stroke, this form of device is likely to draw dirt andforeign matter into the cyl` inderl tothe injury of the-latten The action of the byspass`in my invention differs from ythisrconstruction in the valve action, as the double valves remain open at all times ali-y lowing the passage of air and gases except when' steam pressure, in the. steam chestl closes the valves through pressure-onlibe valve parts 21. 'The vacuum side` of" thev cylinder communicating through theby-pass y connectsA withthe compression 'sideof 4the cylinder` and receives its air-supply from thence insteadof from the outer air, This application is an improverneutover' esire to .have it Having described my invenciomgwht I claim as new and desireto prttectbyfLetfl f ters Patentzis: 1 1. In a locomotive, an engine cylinderhzw.-v

-in'gingress and egress ports in itsrwall :for

'the admission and exhaustof steam, asteam chest connected 'with 4said ports, .a iston adapted to-reciprocate in 'said-cylin er, a

valveicontrolling saidp'orts and adapted to'. reciprocate in'said chest, a drifter-'passage f orming-azconnection from the compression side of p said piston throughsaid Y orts vinto said steam chest to the vacuum si e of said piston during reciprocations of .the piston while drifting, a check valve .adapted to close said passage to the, admission 'of live steam and by-passeshaving communication with the livesteam portion vof said steam chest and with the extremities o f said drifte passage for thepurposes specified. Y

' 2. In a locomotive, an engine cylinder having a steam chest andvingress and egress haust of steam, a piston adapted to recipl .ports in its lwall for the admission andeli-.

recate in said cylinder, al fpiston valve in said steam ches'tcontrolling said ports,'a Y

drifter passage forming a communication` between the compression side of saidl piston through said ports into saidv steam i'chest with the vacuum Aside of the pistonv during successivereciprocationsl of the' pistonfwhile y the locomotive lis drifting, a check valve.v adapted to close said passage to-tlie'admis` sion of live'steam thereinjto', and Evalved bypasses having communication with the live,

steam portion of said steam chestv` and the extremities of said drifter passage, for vthe purposes. specified.

l ,3. In a locomotive, an engine cylinder havi1}gffa`s teain' chest and .ingress and egresports in its lw'alls 'for the admission and exhaust of steam, a piston adapted. to recip' -roate in said cylinder,a" valve controlling 'said ports and 'adapted to reciprocate in said chest, a drifter passage'forming abonneetion'v between Athe compressionV side of said lpiston in vsaid'cyl-inder through said ports intosaid steam-chest and thevacuu'm side of said piston in said `cylinderduring ,sucf

the' locomotive is drifting, a `check -valve adapted to close said passage to the admis- 'cessive reciprocations of the' piston while sion of live steam, a branch from each end of said passage connecting with the steam chest and an exhaust port and valve mechaA nism adapted to close said branch by the ac- 5 tion of live steam, for the purposes specif Witnesses:

fied. H. L. FISCHER,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my J. G. BRADBURY.

name to thin specification in the presence of two suhsembmg wltnesses.

FRANCIS O. VHEALON. 

